Opening Ceremony of Buddha Head Hall at Vat Thad Temple

On 5th December 2025, the Honorary Consulate of the Lao PDR in Nagoya and Champasak Province held a Completion and Opening Ceremony of Buddha Head Hall “Lao-Nichi An” for enshrining the Buddha head that has been returned to Laos by Japanese People at the Vat Thad Temple, Vat Thad Village, Champasak District, Champasak Province. The Buddha head was purchased by a Japanese resident in Nagoya from an antique dealer in Thailand, and subsequent investigations revealed that it originated from Wat Phou Temple of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The owner had wished to return it to Laos.
The ceremony was attended by Mr. Yasuyuki Ohara, Honorary Consul of Honorary Consulate of the Lao PDR in Nagoya, Mr. Tsutomu Koizumi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in the Lao PDR, Dr. Alounxay Sounnalath, Secretary of Champasak Provincial Party Committee, Dr. Souksavane Vilaivong, President of Champasak Provincial Administration Committee, Mr. Vansy Kouamoua, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Amphay Kindavong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao PDR in Japan, Representatives from JETRO, JICA, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Lao PDR (JCCIL), JCCIL Pakse Branch, Pakse-Japan SME SEZ (PJSEZ), other Japanese companies in southern province of Laos, a contractor, Vat Thad Village, relevant departments of Champasak District & Champasak Province and Buddhist Fellowship Organization of Champasak Province.
The Buddha head has been returned to Vat Phou Museum, Champasak Province by Japanese People temporarily since 2013. Then, in December 2023, over the past two years, the Honorary Consulate of Lao PDR in Nagoya and Champasak Province have been jointly conducted a careful selection of the temples, the design of this hall to enshrine the Buddha head, and the construction process and selected a contractor, the total project cost is 100,000 US Dollar, which 50% of total project cost were donated by Japanese People, and remaining cost 50% were donated by Lao people.
This project has been undertaken as part of the commemorative events marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Laos and Japan, which has been started the construction of this project in April 2025 and successfully completed it at the end of November 2025. PJSEZ has supported this project with Champasak Province and Honorary Consulate of Lao PDR in Nagoya from the beginning.
The name of this hall is called “Lao-Nichi An” will stand as a lasting symbol of friendship between Laos and Japan as well as will continue to enhance its historical and cultural significance for generations to come in the future.
Finally, the VIP delegates from Lao side and Japanese side have jointly cut the ribbon and beat the gong 9 times to mark the opening of the Lao-Nichi An, a symbol of the friendship between the two countries.